If you figured out yesterday’s post question, “Do you know? — Can you guess?”, as the Rock Exotica rockStar Rigging Plate, you were right. Go ahead, pat yourself on the back. You had the extraordinary ability to uncover the new rock star in the rope rescue, rope access and rope rigging industry.
In 2011, the world of professional rigging celebrated the release of the UFO—the world’s first 3D rigging plate as another great piece of gear in the Rock Exotica lineup. For 2013, Rock Exotica improved upon the original design and introduced the rockStar.
Alleviates the effect of torque on the rig plate by orienting toward the applied forces.
Simplifies rigging and the attachment of connectors by providing anchor points in a variety of angles and directions.
Weighs just 7.4 oz (470 gm)—1/3 the weight of the original 3D rig plate yet provides many practical connection points.
Machined from solid, aircraft grade aluminum alloy for strength and weight advantage.
All Coaxsher products sold at Rescue Response Gear are 10% off May 6 thru May 20, 2013.
Any one qualifying order of Coaxsher product purchased with Rescue Response Gear from
May 6 thru May 20, 2013 with a cart value of $500 or more (excluding shipping costs)
receives 1 free Coaxsher Bowline Haul Pack ($99.95 value).
For classic styling, maximum comfort and minimum impact, PMI Advantage offers industrial Kevlar head protection and plenty of detail oriented comfort. Fully adjustable ratchet headband and straps make this a helmet for almost any size head. Meets NFPA 1951 as a Utility Technical Rescue Protective Helmet Standard. Key Features:
The TowerPack II, by PMI, is now officially the TowerTek. At this point in time PMI has made no changes to the kit itself and/or to the kit’s components, but you can expect to see some upgrades and accessory products in the near future. Rescue Response Gear has had this kit available for purchase for some time now. Rescue Response Gear has also made available many video presentations covering this product. These were all previously named with the TowerPack name/title nomenclature. We have recently renamed the web product kit, the DVD and the Digital Download Video as well as the video previews on the RRG website, on YouTube and on Vimeo, changing these from TowerPack to TowerTek. However, wherever you view the actual footage of the related or associated videos you will still see the kit in the video footage referred to as the “TowerPack”. Rescue Response Gear will weigh out in future decision whether or not to make the editorial name changes in the video footage presentations. In the meantime keep in mind any video footage referencing the “TowerPack” references a kit that has changed in name only… “TowerTek“.
The purpose of this post is not to teach knots, but rather to address the topic of the language and commonalities of knots to clarify the language surrounding knots.
Ends of the Rope
The working end of the rope is called the “working end”, sometimes referred to as the running end of the rope. The other end, the bulk of the rope that is going to the rope bag or to the coil of rope is called the “standing part”.
One confusing term in rope conversations is “bight”. What is the bight? A bight is the creation of a loop in the rope where we’re connecting something to the rope. To further define bight, a bight contains two strands of rope which are parallel to one another and which stay parallel to one another throughout the course of the knot. Therefore, while tying an overhand on a bight you should be able to look at it and see the parallel ropes going around the overhand until it comes out to the connection point at the top.
A bight is different than a loop. A loop has a cross in it. A loop can be defined in these terms; the working end is on top of the standing part at the point of cross or the working end is underneath the standing part at the point of cross.
A bight contains two strands of rope parallel to one another.
A loop contains two strands of rope arranged in a cross.
A good example of a loop is found in the bowline knot. In the creation of a bowline you start with a loop with the working end on top of the standing part. The working end comes through the loop, goes around the standing part and back into the top of the loop. You now have a definite bight and the bight is captured by the loop.
Another term that is important in rigging as well as in knots is the “gain”. The gain is the overall dimension of the knot within the rigging configuration. The overall dimension of the knot is that distance from the point where the standing part enters the knot to the point where the working end clears the knot. The dimension (length of) of the gain has strong implications regarding how efficient one is rigging his systems especially in systems designed for confined space, particularly underneath tripods, where one wants to minimize the gain so one can maximize the work space.
The saving of space is of great importance in anchor construction and in knot tying, particularly at its most important point of rigging, at that elemental stage of rigging, that first knot that you tie. Become familiar with controlling the gain, keeping it small and compact. Doing so will help ensure you build systems with minimum gain, with a minimum amount of space in the system allocated to rigging and simultaneously with a maximum amount of space allocated to working space.
What are some of the finer points of tying a Figure Eight? This video from the Elements of Rigging series talks about the importance of dressing, setting and controlling the gain (size) of the Figure Eight family of knots.
When talking about the Figure 8 knot it could be said a vote would likely show most people consider it a knot of choice. A simple Figure 8 is commonly used as a stopper knot. A Figure 8 on a bight is commonly used as a connection point to carabiners.
Some of the finer points of the Figure 8 Knot:
When setting and dressing the Figure Eight to be a well dressed knot be careful that you ensure the strands of rope stay parallel to one another, like railroad tracks, as they course through the knot. The Figure Eight tied close to the end of the bight is one way to control the overall dimensions of the knot, referred to as the gain of the knot. When done tying the knot set the four strands, pulling on each strand at each end. A good rule of thumb is to end up with a “fistful” tail length, meaning the tail of the knot will be approximately the length of the width of your fist.
The Directional Eight knot… for more, see the video.
One of the biggest and toughest questions I ask people (young, old or anywhere in between) is “what makes you tick?” The answer to this question will likely change from day to day or even hour to hour, if… you don’t really know. Identity and Destiny are critical components of life. Why? We are “Beings” and we have a Purpose.
So, like life, there are critical components to rigging as well. What are they? We could list a few general concepts first… The Rigging and or Rescue Equipment, Rigging Knots, Force, Vectors, Angles, Anchors, Personal Rope Skills, Assessing Risk. I might go with the last one… Assessing Risk. However, this too has some interesting dynamics. How does one properly assess risk? Through experience right? This brings in knowledge and understanding…which is wisdom. Prudence finds her way into all this.
Our ability to properly gauge “a situation” is defined by what we know about the gear we have, the quantitative physics we are standing with, time, urgency, our skill set, courage and of course… experience.
Risk assessments are generally considered both subjective and objective in nature. Gathering information, evaluating that information, and then recognizing what must be done with that information. The reason the event is evident is because either, something went wrong with someone else’s ability to understand risk, or a completely unseen collision with time and space. Either way, we need to understand what happened first, before we can even take Step One. Understanding is Key.
Many people ask me, after I ask them… “what makes me tick”? Engaging with people at a root level and watching their “light go on” is what I get charged about. Why? Because we are “beings” and that means we have a core and dynamics revolve all around us. Engagement is simply fascinating to me and rigging for work and or rescue is of the same “stream”. Beings are involved at every corner of what we do and who we are. Enjoy the ride. Engage. And know you are created for a reason and purpose… No different than the systems you are building.
PS… The root of the classic answer to the question for me… 1. Physics! I love physics and life is physics and physics is a relationship. 2. Our lives are meant to impact every person we meet and encourage them for amazing things.
This could be old news, but there has been a heightened amount of calls to the office regarding the thoughts on replacing the Petzl Shunt (as a back up during a roped descent). The Petzl ASAP is one suggestion… it tracks well, stops on a dime, easy to use and works with a bunch of different ropes.
Another option is the Kong Back-Up. The Kong Back-Up is designed to be a fall arrester. It is designed to be used on rope with a diameter between 10mm and 12mm. It uses two levers to apply pressure to the rope when it is subjected to a load. It is supplied with a steel carabiner instead of an aluminum carabiner because the weight of the steel carabiner is necessary to slightly engage the larger lever against the rope to keep the Back-Up from sliding under its own weight when there is no load on it. The Back-Up has no teeth on either of the levers to prevent damage to the rope.
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Working with public and private industry providing rescue equipment, rope access equipment, rescue training and rope access training to:
Fire Departments; Training Facilities; Public Utility Companies; Tower Erector Companies and Search and Rescue Organizations as well as Federal, State, County and City Agencies.
